Librarian Prep List for February

Bear with me! This is a SUPER CUTE book that works just as well on Valentine’s Day as it did for Halloween.

Frankenstein isn’t your typical monster. For starters, he only has one head, just two eyes, and no tail. And worst of all, he’s sort of nice! Frankenstein quickly realizes his friendly behavior is out of place at the Valentine’s Day Bash.

There’s one monster, though, who likes that Frankenstein is different. Can Frankenstein figure out the identity of his secret valentine? And can the other monsters finally accept Frankenstein for the monster that he is?

Do you give valentines to your friends or family? Learn about the holiday of love and find out how people show their affection on this special day. Full-color photographs and carefully leveled text make this title a helpful introduction to a well-loved holiday. Age-appropriate critical thinking questions help build nonfiction reading skills.

There’s a new addition in the Valentine house: a kitten! He’s soft and sweet, and Ruby is happy to have him. But not everyone shares Ruby’s enthusiasm. Lovebird’s feathers are more than a little ruffled. And when Valentine’s Day arrives, both animals try to outdo each other to show Ruby how much they love her. Ruby’s favorite day quickly turns into a mess. Can Ruby find a way to show her pets that there’s room in her heart for two?

Real Ruby Valentines!

I know we’ve talked about these “real life” Ruby Valentines before, but they’re just too cute to not mention, again.

One Ruby Valentine fan, Annabelle Celkis (also known as Annabelle Valentine) decided to follow Ruby’s example. Every year since she was four, she has handed out Valentine’s Day cards and cookies to people in Manchester, Michigan. One year, she visited the local Veteran’s Hospital, and another year she handed out valentines at a family homeless shelter.

In 2018, ten-year-old Annabelle threw a Valentine Party for a whole town! She almost didn’t do it because she was worried that she was too old, but I don’t think anyone’s too old to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

Ruby Valentine has also inspired another young reader, Carly, to give out valentines in assisted living residents, crisis centers, and cancer patient residences in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area for the past ten years. She’s also raised money to make donations to some of the places she visits. To learn more about Carly Valentine and to make a donation, visit her website.

Way to go, Annabelle and Carly!

Presidents’ Day

Presidents’ Day is, of course, centered around George Washington’s birthday, but it never hurts to know more about some of the other heroes of the Revolutionary War, some of whom might surprise you!

On a rainy spring night in 1777, sixteen-year-old Sybil Ludington and her horse raced through the woods. The American colonists were fighting the Revolutionary War, and Sybil was on a mission. If she didn’t succeed, British soldiers would attack her town and everyone in it. Ride along with Sybil and experience the story of the girl who traveled all night to help the war effort.

Told for the first time in picture book form is the true story of James Lafayette—a slave who spied for George Washington’s army during the American Revolution. But while America celebrated its newfound freedom, James returned to slavery. His service hadn’t qualified him for the release he’d been hoping for. For James the fight wasn’t over; he’d already helped his country gain its freedom, now it was time to win his own.

Heroes come in all sizes, colors, and ages, and 50 American Heroes Every Kid Should Meet introduces readers to a diverse cast of great Americans. The remarkable stories of fifty inspiring Americans are highlighted, from Jane Addams to Louis Zamperini. Revised in 2016 by the original authors to include ten new heroes, the book includes up-to-date websites and booklists.